John Donnelly, the former British bantamweight champion, is the latest in a
spate of boxers to have been banned in the last year for testing positive
for a banned substance.

Donnelly was handed the 24-month ban after he produced a positive test for the stimulant benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, on November 9 last year. The 28-year-old was tested in the wake of his first round defeat by Paul Butler in their British super flyweight title clash at Liverpool's Olympia.

Donnelly was informed about his failed test and provisionally suspended from all competitions on November 27 last year. The Liverpudlian verbally confirmed to the UK Anti-Doping agency earlier this month he accepted the charge and its consequences.

Olubamiwu admitted to taking 13 banned substances, including human growth hormone and anabolic steroids. Olubamiwu admitted to using 13 banned substances, including human growth hormone and anabolic steroids, over a six-year period. During this time he competed as an amateur and professional boxer.

In the United States, middleweight Andre Berto tested positive for a steroid, and earlier this year, Amir Khan's world title re-match with Lamont Peterson was called off 19 days before the contest when it emerged the American had taken a form of synthetic testosterone. Khan is still chasing a re-match with Peterson.

In an email from his solicitors, Warren confirmed that they intended to place a stop on the £102,000 cheque lodged with the Court last Friday, which Warren's company had been ordered to pay to provide security for costs.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said in a statement: “We are pleased that Frank Warren has decided to discontinue this case, as the issue has already been before the Stewards of the BBBoC and an independent appeal panel of lawyers, and on both occasions it was unanimously held that Tony Bellew had legitimately terminated his management agreement with Warren as a result of Frank Warren's “serious” breach of contract."

“Since Frank Warren commenced this litigation against us last August, we have maintained that there was no merit to the claims. We are pleased that this case is now at an end, apart from dealing with the recovery of our legal costs in defending ourselves. With this behind him, Tony can now fully concentrate on the very promising and exciting boxing career ahead of him."

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George Groves, the supermiddleweight formerly in Warren's stable, has joined Matchroom Sports and will begin his career under new promoters this weekend, when the Commonwealth champion faces Argentine Dario German Balmaceda at Wembley Arena

Groves will also appear on the Carl Froch-Mikkel Kessler bill on 25 May. "Eddie Hearn is doing great things promotionally and I'm excited to be a part of it," said Groves, 24. "I've had three fights in 18 months, which is not ideal, so it will be great for me to get out regularly. I'm healthy, I'm training hard and Eddie has promised to keep me busy, so everything is looking good and I'm raring to get back into action."

Groves's chief support slot on the Froch-Kessler bill will come two years after the most high-profile win of his career, over James DeGale. Groves is also targeting the winner of the fight between WBO title-holder Arthur Abraham and Robert Stieglitz, which takes place on March 23.

"I'm ranked number one with the WBO so I'll be keeping a keen eye on that fight. But I'll have just as close an eye on the Froch v Kessler fight as I really believe I could get a crack at the winner and Eddie knows I want that fight." Groves was scheduled to fight Senegal's Mohamed Ali Ndiaye at Wembley on 16 March before announcing his split from Warren.

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In Germany, Wladimir Klitschko has announced he will defend his four world heavyweight title belts against his former sparring partner, the German-Italian Francesco Pianeta in Mannheim on May 4.

Klitschko, holder of the IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA titles, used the 28-year-old Pianeta as a sparring partner last year. Pianeta is undefeated in 29 professional fights.

"I have a lot of respect for Pianeta because he is young and has a big fighting spirit," said Klitschko, 36. It will be his 14th defence of the world title in his second reign as heavyweight champion.